Thomas Dolby: Never Never Land - The Moth

Podcast Summary: The Moth – "Thomas Dolby: Never Never Land"

Episode Information

Title: The Moth
Host/Author: The Moth
Episode: Thomas Dolby: Never Never Land
Release Date: May 14, 2012
Theme: Rock and Roll Saved my Life – Tales of hits and misses

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Moth, legendary synth-pop musician and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Thomas Dolby shares a deeply personal and surreal story titled "Never Never Land." Recorded live in 2002, Dolby's narrative delves into his unexpected encounter with pop icon Michael Jackson and the profound impact it had on his life and career.

Background

Thomas Dolby, renowned for his hit "She Blinded Me with Science," provides listeners with a behind-the-scenes look at the music industry in the early 1980s. As an early MTV icon and a pioneer in music technology, Dolby's insights offer a unique perspective on fame, creativity, and the pressures of the music business.

The Story

Arrival in Los Angeles

Dolby begins his story with his rise to fame in the United States. After his song "She Blinded Me with Science" became a Top 10 hit in the US, propelled by relentless MTV airplay alongside Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," Dolby was thrust into the spotlight. Responding to his American record company's urgent request, he boarded a plane from Brussels to Los Angeles despite battling glandular fever (mononucleosis).

The TV Mishap

Upon arrival, Dolby was greeted by his entourage and taken to a TV studio for a live broadcast. Exhausted and unwell, he faced an embarrassing moment when the wrong version of his song played, causing him to mime inaccurately to the lyrics. Reflecting on this humiliating experience, Dolby noted, "It's like a humiliating experience to add to the state that I'm already in" (06:30).

Meeting Michael Jackson

Desperate for some normalcy, Dolby attempted to call a friend but inadvertently dialed Michael Jackson's number, leading to a surprising and memorable invitation. Despite feeling jet-lagged and ill, he accepted Jackson's offer to visit his mansion in Encino.

The Mansion Encounter

The subsequent journey to Michael Jackson's estate was nothing short of surreal. Dolby described being drenched by torrential rain, only to meet Jackson in his pajamas within a grandiose reception hall adorned with eclectic art treasures. The encounter was both awe-inspiring and disorienting, as Dolby recounted:

"We were having this really nice conversation... it was really inspiring to me to hear this guy telling me, you know, forget what they say. Just carry on believing in your music." (12:45)

The Balcony and the Kids

As their conversation flowed, Dolby noticed children dancing and playing with toys on the mansion's balcony. The scene became more surreal as the kids began interacting with them, adding an unexpected layer of normalcy to the star-studded environment. He shared:

"There's a little disco going on on the balcony of all these little Black kids... pointing and giggling." (14:20)

Reflections on Fame and Media

Dolby's narrative transitions into a reflection on the nature of fame and media scrutiny. He expressed sadness over how Michael Jackson's private life was intensely publicized and judged, contrasting it with his own more fulfilling personal experience with the artist. Dolby emphasized the lasting positive influence Jackson had on him:

"What lasted with me was more the inspiration that I got from it. I met one of my heroes... it was an honor to meet him and to get that charge from him to stick with the music." (16:10)

The Journey Home

The story concludes with Dolby's drive back to his hotel, orchestrated by Jackson's brother Randy. Despite feeling too ill to join a club outing, Dolby appreciated the gesture, highlighting the genuine kindness he experienced amidst the chaos of fame.

Notable Quotes

Thomas Dolby on Storytelling:
"You have to be careful when you're telling stories, because people have different ways of thinking about their past." (04:15)
Dolby on the TV Performance:
"I'm up there on stage miming to my own song, getting the words wrong. And I'm looking down at the kids in the front row and they know the words." (07:05)
Conversation with Michael Jackson:
"You just have to go on believing in your music. And I've always done that." (13:50)
Dolby on Media Judgment:
"The media has a way of needing to pass judgment and to moralize about this kind of behavior and this kind of lifestyle. I just thought this was really unfair." (16:50)

Conclusion

Thomas Dolby's "Never Never Land" offers a poignant glimpse into the complexities of achieving fame and the enduring influence of genuine mentorship. His encounter with Michael Jackson serves as a testament to the power of believing in one's art and the importance of maintaining authenticity amid external pressures. Through his vivid storytelling and introspective reflections, Dolby not only entertains but also imparts valuable lessons on resilience and integrity in the face of success.

Additional Information

Thomas Dolby: A legendary synth-pop songwriter, early MTV icon, and Silicon Valley entrepreneur. He serves as the musical director of the TED Conference and recently released his first new album in 20 years, "A Map of the Floating City."
Support The Moth: As a nonprofit organization, The Moth relies on listeners' support. Consider contributing by visiting themost.org or becoming a member for continued storytelling experiences.

This summary captures the essence of Thomas Dolby's storytelling, highlighting key moments and reflections that define his journey in the music industry and his memorable interaction with Michael Jackson.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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B (1:09)

Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm Dan Kennedy. This Moth podcast is supported by New Belgium Brewing and their traveling bicycle celebration Tour de Fat. Join fellow bicycle enthusiasts and celebrate local cycling. More info@facebook.com tourdefat okay, everybody, we're hoping that you'll join us in grand rapids on Wednesday, June 27, and in Ann Arbor on Thursday, June 28, when we bring the Moth to Michigan in partnership with Michigan Public Radio. For ticketing information and for a list of all of our tour stops this summer, visit themoth.org the story you're about to hear by Thomas Dolby was recorded live at the moth in 2002. The theme of the night was Rock and Roll Saved my Life. Tales of hits and misses.

C (2:01)

I checked into the Gramercy Park Hotel a few hours ago and the bellhop was bringing me up the stairs and he turned around and said, have you ever stayed with us before, sir? And I thought about it and I thought, yep, I stayed here before. So when was that little mental calculation? 1977? 24? 25 years ago. Close. I sort of looked at him and he didn't really respond. You know, it's like this guy is like 22 years old. And it occurred to me, you have to be careful when you're like, telling stories, because people have different ways of thinking about their past. I mean, as we get older, we tend to think that to be able to say to somebody, I was here 25 years ago. And you sort of look at them like you deserve some kind of respect for having been here 25 years before. And they're looking back at you like, okay, Granddad, you better have US currency in that pocket of yours when we get to your room. This story happened when I was his age, not my age, and it has stuck with me. And the way that I think about it has changed over the years. It was very surreal at the time, but my life at the time was so insane that it sort of brushed over me. And I guess now that it's had time to mellow a little bit, I have a different perspective on it. So I thought I'd tell you about it tonight. It started in 1981 in London. There was a little video production company called Limelight for it was run by a brother and sister team, Siobhan and Steve Baron. And in the fall of 1981, they were each working on a music video. Siobhan was producing my music video for Shabblinda Me this Science. And in the next edit room along, her brother Steve was directing a video for Michael Jackson, for Billie Jean. And Billie Jean, as you may recall, was the first single off the Thriller album. And at that time, Michael was a megastar, sure, but he was a singer. He wasn't the global freak show that he became over the years. And he was a big hero of mine. And I loved that song. It was like the best thing he'd ever done. So I was very pleased when Siobhan called me and said, you know, I was with Michael the other day and he really likes your video for She'd Buy Me a Science. He'd heard that song in some club in the States. And I gave him your number. Hope you don't mind. So sure. So I'm sitting at home one evening and the phone goes. And it's like, it's Michael Jackson. And we started chatting and he told me how much he liked the song. And I said, I like your song, you know, how long are you here for? You know? He said, well, I'm flying back tomorrow, you know, so. Oh, well, we won't have a chance to get together. But he said, I'll tell you what, if you're ever out in California, you should call me. So he gave me his number and I wrote it in my Filofax. Remember Filofaxes? And about six months late now, maybe three months later, I had my first ever hit single anywhere, when Shibanyme Science went into the US top 10. And it did this Precipitated by MTV and the fact that my video is being played all the time on MTV alongside the video for Billie Jean. So I was in good company. And I was summoned by my American record company capital to get in a plane, stop everything I was doing and come over here, because you had to strike while the iron was hot. So I was actually in Brussels at the time recording some new stuff. But I got in a plane and I connected and I had this long, long flight, flew out to Los Angeles and I hadn't been feeling good leading up to this. And I had a doctor's appointment that morning. And the doctor had informed me that I had what we call glandular fever and I believe you call mononucleosis. So I'm sitting on this plane and I'm like pouring sweat. I felt like dog do. And I got off the plane at LAX and there was an entourage there to meet me. An entourage of people, the guys that had discovered me and they introduced me. They come up and say, hi, I'm Steve, I discovered you. Really glad we got to meet Steve. And they took me to Burbank to a TV studio. And my first appointment was a live TV broadcast, which I had to mime to my song in front of an audience maybe about this size. And so they had a set of keyboards for me and so on. And Richard Blade was the host. And it was a popular TV show on the, on the west coast at the time. And I stood there and mimed to myself. By now I'm feeling very jet lagged, right? And I'm feeling very, very sick. And I get up there on stage and they start to run this thing with the cameras rolling. And I realize that the version of my song that they're playing is the 12 inch version, meaning it's an edit of the song with everything in the wrong place. You know, like there's an extra drum break and the verses are swapped around and stuff. So I'm up there on stage miming to my own song, getting the words wrong. And I'm looking down at the kids in the front row and they know the words. It's like, how come I don't know the words? So this is like a humiliating experience to add to the state that I'm already in. And I go off stage, get into my dressing room. Ah, thank God. And the entourage pours into the dressing room and they're going, yeah. So we thought we'd go to Carlos and Charlie's for a spot of, you know, a few tacos. And then afterwards we go to the Rainbow Rooms and take in a band, and there's a few good parties later on. I'm going, guys, I'm not sure if I'm really up for this. In fact, I had plans to call a friend tonight and to go see somebody. Oh, well, that's cool. Want to use the phone here? Go ahead. And I go, right, I will. So I pull out my Filofax and it's like I'm thumbing through my Filofax and they've caught me in a lie, you know, it's like, I don't know anybody in Los Angeles. So I'm sort of desperately looking for an LA number. And believe it or not, I found an LA number, and it's for Michael Jackson. What the hell, you know? So I call the number and amazingly he answers, Hi, Michael, it's Thomas. Remember me? We spoke on the phone in England. And he goes, yeah, yeah, what are you doing? Where are you? And I said, we're in Burbank. Well, I'm just in Encino, you know, why don't you come over? I said, okay, I could do that. Fine. I better change. So I changed and I got in a pair of jeans and a T shirt and we walked outside to the fleet of limos. And now the rain has started, you know, the way it rains torrentially in Los Angeles for like three days at a time. It had started and it was pouring with rain. And by the time I got to the limo, I was soaked, I was drenched. We get in the limousine and there's like. I think there were four or five limos. And I say, I need you to drop me off on Havenhurst Avenue. I think it's an Encino. So they're driving and they're driving along and it's like it's getting dark and they're squinting through the rain and the driver's going, doesn't Michael Jackson live around here somewhere? I said, that's where I'm going. And so they look at each other. Ok, well, we'll drop you off. And I really didn't want, like, all of the limos to drive up to his house. I sort of felt like a dick. So they dropped me off at the gatehouse. And there's like this big metal gate, you know, And I get out and it's raining, and I press the button and a big camera sort of swings round and a voice goes, speak your name. It's Thomas for Michael. So I turn around and I say, you know, goodbye to the limo. You Know, I'm in the headlights of the limos at this point. You know, there's puddles all over the drive. And I'm, like, stumbling up this driveway and the gate closes behind me. And I'm looking around, and there's like, a glass guard house with a couple of huge security guards and machine guns on the walls, and they're just going. So I walk past them and I walk up to the front of the house. And the front of the house is a big front door with sort of crystal surround. And I ring the doorbell and I sort of squint through the crystal. And inside, there's a big circular reception hall area with sort of double staircases and a landing Busby Berkeley style. And after a while, this figure comes down the stairs. I was sort of expecting a butler or something, but it's Michael. And he's in this sort of. It's, like in his pajamas. So he comes down, he opens the door, and Thomas and I must have looked like something the cat dragged in. But he takes me into his house and he. He asked me if I want anything. There doesn't seem to be anybody else around at this point. So I go, well, a mineral water, if you have one. And he had to call his assistant to find out where the mineral water was. But he gets me a mineral water, and he takes me back into this big hall area, and he sits me down. And this whole area has got art treasures all around, and they're sort of incoherent. There's like a solid gold Venetian clock. Next to that, an ivory chess set. And next to that, a scroll from China. And Michael sits in a kind of a medieval throne that he has to, like, climb up to get into. Sits there. So he's, like, looking down at me, and I'm sort of down on this couch. I'm still wet, you know, so I'm, like, dripping on his couch. But we started to have a conversation, and, you know, we talked about music first and foremost. Foremost. And we talked about grooves and drum machines and different players that we liked and stuff like this. And it started to get quite comfortable. Yeah, I was feeling good. And then more about life. And he was sort of saying, did I like California? And I said, from what I've seen, I like the east coast more. He's got, oh, I know the way the seasons change and everything. I love it there. I miss it. So we're having this really nice conversation, and we're getting into, like, you know, I'd just gotten some reviews of my album, and One of them was really stinging. And I said, oh, that really hurt when I read that review. And he said, you know what? You just have to go on believing in your music. And I've always done that. And it was really amazing because he'd. I mean, we both, in some ways, lived sort of similar childhoods. I traveled a lot, he traveled a lot. He had done a lot more showbiz than I ever had. But it was really inspiring to me to hear this guy telling me, you know, forget what they say. Just carry on believing in your music. Just stick to your guns. So it was really feeling good. During the course of the conversation, I glance up at the balcony, and I thought I saw little faces along the balcony, and then they disappeared. And I thought maybe I was imagining it. I look again, and there definitely are little faces up there. And suddenly a door swings open and out comes my song playing at 120 decibels. And the next thing I know, I look up and there's a little disco going on on the balcony of all these little Black kids, probably nine or 10 of them, dancing around to my song on the balcony and looking down at me and pointing and giggling. And I said to Michael, what's the deal with the kids on the balcony? And he looked up and he said, oh, they just can't believe you're the guy off the tv. Okay, so that's very flattering, I guess. We carry on the conversation, and then the little kids start coming down to where we are, and they've got, like, Tonka toys with them and remote control toys. And so Michael's up on his throne, and I'm down on the couch dripping, and all around us are buzzing these kids with their little remote control toys. And Michael and I are carrying on trying to have this conversation about music. But every now and then he'll go, excuse me, Jimmy, don't do that. Bring that over here. And I'll be going on about some bass player or something. Eric, bring that over here right now. Right now. So he's like the king of the castle, you know, with all of these kids. And you might at least play the melody from my song. So the evening ended, and I needed to get back over the hill to Hollywood and get back to my hotel. This experience was completely surreal, but it was all so dreamy that it sort of carried me along. And I asked him to order me a cab, and he said, well, you know what? I think Randy's going over the hill. He can drive you. So he gets on the phone, and Randy, who's his younger brother is in some other wing of the mansion. And Randy comes over, decked out in tight red leather, and he says, yo, you want to ride over the hill? And he's much more like what you would expect from, like a global mega star R and B singer than Michael was. And Michael says, yeah, drive Thomas home. But you know what, Randy? I bet you're going to go to a club and pick up a fish and smoke those turds you smoke. And Randy sort of says, nah, not going to do that. He goes, cool. So Randy and I get in the Jeep and start driving over the hill. And I know I'm going to hear the violin again in a minute. Before I wrap up the story, I just want to say that, you know, this was in the days when Michael, what I'd seen of him, was a very private and like an intimate side to his personal life. And it was eccentric and it was weird, but a lot of my friends were eccentric and weird. I'm eccentric and weird. So there's nothing particularly strange about this. And what I saw unfolding over the years as Michael became more and more of a center of media attention was this same personal life being sort of divulged and uncovered and exposed for everybody to gawk at. But the media has a way of needing to sort of pass judgment and to moralize about this kind of behavior and this kind of lifestyle. I just thought this was really unfair. So it made me sad, especially when I thought back to the fact that what lasted, what stuck with me from this experience, was more the inspiration that I got from it. I met one of my heroes. He was everything that I expected him to be. Musically, he was absolutely the real thing. And it was an honor to meet him and to get that charge from him to stick with the music. And that's really what lasted with me over this thing. So just to finalise, I have to tell you the very end of the story. So Laurel Canyon, which you may be familiar with, is like this sort of river run that goes over the Hollywood Hills. And it was pouring rain, so it's like you're on white water rapids or something. And we're in this Jeep with Randy sort of driving like this sort of thing. And Randy sort of says to me, hey, you want to go to a club? And I'm going, I'm thinking, what? And pick up a fish and smoke those turds you smoke, whatever that may mean. So I just said to him, randy, it's really kind of you, but I'm English, I'm jet lagged and I've got mononucleosis so no thank you. And he said to me, he said to me why would you want anything mono man? I've got the biggest Dass stereo you've ever seen.